Flushed mounted lighted table for use with serving machines

ABSTRACT

A table for supporting a sewing machine thereon and for illuminating from below indicia apertures in a workpiece to be sewn. The table includes a lighted portion comprising a translucent cover which is flush mounted within the table. A housing is disposed immediately under the table and includes plural fluorescent lamps disposed over a reflective base.

United States Patent [191 J oella et al.

FLUSHED MOUNTED LIGHTED TABLE FOR USE WITH SEWING MACHINES Inventors: Thomas Joella, Delaboe, Bangor,

Pa. 18013; Robert Z. Mickus, RD. 2, New Tripoli, Pa. 18066 Filed: Dec. 6, 1973 Appl. No.: 422,448

US. Cl. 240/2.l4, 240/4 Int. Cl D05b 79/00 Field of Search 240/2 AD, 2 D, 2 MT, 2 P,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1929 Verduce 240/2 D X .6/1941 Solk 240/2.l8 X

[451 Feb. 18, 1975 2,701,838 2/1955 Loesch 240/2 D 3,631,235 12/1971 Odermann et a1. 240/2.14

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 468,021 3/1969 Switzerland 240/2 D Primary ExaminerFred L. Braun Attorney, Agent, or FirmCaesur, Rivise, Berstcin & Cohen [57] ABSTRACT A table for supporting a sewing machine thereon and for illuminating from below indicia apertures in a workpiece to be sewn. The table includes a lighted portion comprising a translucent cover which is flush mounted within the table. A housing is disposed immediately under the table and includes plural fluorescent lamps disposed over a reflective base.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEBFEBI ems FIG. 2

FLUSI-IED MOUNTED LIGHTED TABLE FOR USE WITH SEWING MACHINES This invention relates generally to apparatus for use in conjunction with sewing machines and more particularly relates to tables for supporting sewing machines thereon and for accurately indicating the position of indicia apertures in fabrics to faciliate the sewing thereof.

It is a common practice in the clothing manufacturing trade to utilize alignment systems to aid in the alignment of the fabric workpiece(s) to be sewn, such as in providing pockets or darts in a garment.

One common alignment technique involves the drilling of indicia apertures in the fabric workpiece. In order to properly align the workpiece(s) for sewing, the sewing machine operators commonly raise the workpiece in the air and hold it up to the overhead lights in order to see the indicia apertures, provided in the workpiece. Once the apertures are seen, the operator can then orient, align or otherwise manipulate the workpiece(s) as desired while still holding it in the air. Once the workpiece(s) is properly arranged, the operator then carries the workpiece(s) to the sewing machine, whereupon it is sewn.

While this technique is an inexpensive one and provides a rather simple manner for arranging workpieces prior to sewing them, it suffers from various drawbacks.

I For example, a significant'amount of valuable sewing time is wasted each time that the operator is forced to move the workpiece(s) up to the light to align it and then down to the sewing machine to sew it. Furthermore, during the carriage down to the sewing machine, the previously aligned workpiece(s) frequently become misaligned resulting in the production of an inferior garment.

Another alignment system presently in use involves the use of an ultraviolet emitting device adjacent each sewing machine. The device is arranged to provide an ultraviolet ray on the workpiece as it is disposed on the sewing table adjacent the sewing machine, to effect the illumination of phosphorescent indicia markings placed on the workpiece. When the markings are illuminated, the sewing machine operator is then able to properly arrange workpiece( s) before moving it under the needle of the sewing machine.

While such a phosphorescent alignment system overcomes some of the disadvantages of other prior art systerns, it nevertheless suffers from various disadvantages itself. For example, the ultraviolet emitting device is extremely expensive. Furthermore, when used with some intricate patterned fabrics, the phosphorescent indicia marks may not show up readily.

In our copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 405,351 and filed on Oct. 11, 1973 there is disclosed and claimed a table adapted for disposition on a sewing machine support table and operative to support a workpiece to be sewn while illuminating the workpiece from below to indicate the position of indicia markings therein.

To that end, the table comprises a base, light emitting means disposed over the base and a light transmitting cover disposed over the light emitting means. The cover is adapted to support the workpiece directly thereon. The cover is of generally truncated pyramidal shape having sides which gently slope down from a flat central portion. The sloping sides facilitate the removal of the workpiece from the table by preventing the workpiece from snagging thereon.

The table is small and lightweight and can be readily moved from place to place.

In some instances, it may be desirable to provide a sewing table with permanently positioned indiciaaperture indicating means.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a table for supporting a sewing machine and for illuminating a workpiece from below as said workpiece is disposed on the table to indicate the position of indicia apertures in the workpiece.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sewing machine table including flush mounted lighting means for illuminating from below a workpiece to be sewn to indicate the position of indicia apertures therein.

These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a table for supporting a sewing machine and including illuminating means comprising a surface for supporting a workpiece to be sewn by the sewing machine and for illuminating from below indicia apertures in the workpiece when said workpiece is placed upon the surface. The illumination means comprises a base, light emitting means disposed over the base and a light transmitting cover disposed over the light emitting means with the cover forming said surface and being adapted to support the workpiece directly thereon.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the table in accor dance with this invention showing a workpiece disposed thereon and illuminated from below to indicate the position of indicia apertures therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top elevation view of a portion of the illuminating means of the table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a table 20 inaccordance with this invention. The table 20 is adapted for supporting a conventional sewing machine 22 thereon and includes illuminating means 24 which serve to support a material or fabric workpiece(s) 26 directly thereon while illuminating it from below.

By illuminating the workpiece from below, indicia apertures 28 which are provided in the workpiece to indicate the position of fold lines, seams, etc, are transilluminated and are hence readily visible to the sewing machine operator. Accordingly. the operator can readily manipulate the workpiece(s) while it is on the table without necessitating the movement of it off the table and into the air or otherwise out of the vicinity of the sewing machine. Once the workpiece is arranged as desired the operator merely slides the workpiece across the table and under the needle 30 of the sewing machine to effect the sewing of the garment.

The table 20 basically comprises a generally planar top 32 from which four legs 34 (only 3 of which can be seen) extend downwardly. The top 32 includes an opening 36 in which the base 38 of the sewing 22 is mounted. The top 32 also includes a recess 40 disposed immediately adjacent the needle of the sewing machine.

The illuminating means basically comprises a light transmitting cover 42 (FIG. 1), a housing 44 (FIG. 2) including a light reflective base 46 (FIG. 2) and light emitting means 48 (FIG. 2) disposed within the housing and over the base. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention the cover 42 is flush with the top surface of the table to obviate any fabric snagging problems and serves as a surface 50 for supporting the workpiece(s) while illuminating it from As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the base 46 of table 20 is flush with the bottom surface thereof, such that the illuminating means is completely within the table and does not project below the bottom surface thereof. This feature is of considerable importance in that the illuminating means does not provide any impediment to the free access of the bobbin of the machine 22, which bobbin (not shown) is disposed in a conventional manner under the table 20 closely adjacent to the bottom surface thereof and under the needle 30.

As can be seen in FIG. I, the top surface 50 of the illuminating means is generally L-shaped, such that a portion is disposed immediately adjacent to the-side of the needle and another portion is disposed immediately adjacent to the front of the needle.

The L-shape of the illuminating top surface 50 insures that the workpieces to be sewn can be manipulated and aligned both laterally of the needle as well as in front of the needle, and can thus be slid under the needle from either direction for subsequent sewing without wasting time or enabling the workpieces bo become misaligned (as will be described hereinafter).

In FIG. 1 there is shown the table 20 in use in a typical workpiece alignment or manipulation operation. To that end, as can be seen, a first fabric workpiece 26, such as a shirt front, is disposed on the table 20 with a portion disposed on surface 50 of illuminating means 24. The first workpiece includes a plurality of indicia apertures 28 which have been drilled in the fabric to indicate the position that a second workpiece 52, such as pocket, is to be disposed at. The second workpiece 52 also includes indicia apertures 28 drilled therein. The latter apertures are arranged to be aligned with the indicia apertures in the first workpiece when the pocket is in correct position on the shirt front.

The illuminating means provides light from below the workpieces to clearly indicate the position of the indicia apertures by transilluminating the apertures. This enables the sewing machine operator to quickly position the workpieces with respect to each other to align the indicia apertures without removing the workpieces from the table. The aligned workpieces are then slid across the table and under the needle of the sewing machine immediately adjacent the illuminating means to enable the workpieces to be sewn in proper position.

It should be noted at this point that while FIG. 1 shows the table 20 used for aligning a pair of workpieces, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the table can be used with only a single workpiece, such as when providing a dart in a garment at a position indiciated by indicia apertures provided therein.

The structural details of illumination means 24 can best be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the light emitting means 44 comprise four conventional fluorescent lamps 54. The lamps are supported at each end by conventional electrical sockets 56. The sockets are mounted on the base 46 of housing 44 and are connected thereto via screws (not shown).

Electric power is provided to the sockets 56 and hence to the lamps 44, via plural wires 58. The wires 56 are connected to conventional ballast devices 60, which, as is known to those skilled in the art, serve to limit the lamp current to the required value for proper operation while providing the required starting voltage and current. The ballast devices are mounted within a compartment 62 in housing 44. Heat dissipating louvres 64 are provided in the underside of compartment 62 to dissipate heat produced by the ballast devices.

An input cable 66 is connected to the ballast devices 60 and terminates at its free end 68 in a conventional electrical plug 70. When the plug is inserted into a conventional volt electrical receptacle (not shown). electrical power is provided, via cable 66 to the ballast devices 60 which in turn provide the proper voltage and current, via wires 58 to the lamps 54 to effect the illumination thereof.

In order to provide access to the interior of housing 44, so as to enable one to correct a malfunction or replace a part, the cover 42 is pivotably connected to the table 20. To that end, a pair of internal hinges 72 (FIG. 3) are provided, with one side of each hinge being connected to a side wall 74 (FIG. 3) of housing 44 and the other side of each hinge being connected to the inside surface of the cover 42.

In order to diffuse or equalize the light output across the entire surface 50 of the cover 42, the cover is preferably formed of a translucent plastic such as pigmented polyethylene, pigmented polymethyl methacrylate or pigmented polystyrene.

The inside surface 76 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of base 42 is a light reflector in order to direct the light produced by the lamps 48 through the cover 42. To that end, the base 46 is preferably formed of mill finished aluminum. If more light output is required for a given rating fluorescent lamp, the inside surface 76 of the base may be formed of a conventional silvered mirror or its equivalent.

As should be appreciated from the foregoing, the sewing machine table of this invention is simple and inexpensive and includes self-contained illuminating means which is extremely effective in indicating the position of indicia apertures in workpieces. Furthermore, the flush mounting of the illuminating means within the table top and closely adjacent the sewing machine ensures that once the workpieces are aligned on the illumination means, they can be readily and quickly moved to the sewing machine without catching or other interference.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate our invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. A table having a top and a bottom surface and supporting a sewing machine thereon. said sewing machine including a needle, said table including illumination means comprising a surface for directing supporting a workpiece to be sewn by said machine and for illuminating from below indicia apertures in the workpiece when the workpiece is placed upon said workpiece supporting surface to facilitate the sewing of said workpiece, said workpiece supporting surface being flush with the top surface of said table and extending in front of and to the side of the needle of the sewing machine, said illumination means comprising a base, fluorescent light emitting means disposed over said base and a light transmitting cover disposed over said light emitting means, said base being flush with the bottom surface of said table, said cover forming the workpiece supporting surface of said table.

2. The table of claim 1 wherein said base is reflective.

3. The table of claim 2 wherein said cover diffuses the light produced by the light emitting means.

4. The table of claim 3 wherein said illuminating 

1. A table having a top and a bottom surface and supporting a sewing machine thereon, said sewing machine including a needle, said table including illumination means comprising a surface for directing supporting a workpiece to be sewn by said machine and for illuminating from below indicia apertures in the workpiece when the workpiece is placed upon said workpiece supporting surface to facilitate the sewing of said workpiece, said workpiece supporting surface being flush with the top surface of said table and extending in front of and to the side of the needle of the sewing machine, said illumination means comprising a base, fluorescent light emitting means disposed over said base and a light transmitting cover disposed over said light emitting means, said base being flush with the bottom surface of said table, said cover forming the workpiece supporting surface of said table.
 2. The table of claim 1 wherein said base is reflective.
 3. The table of claim 2 wherein said cover diffuses the light produced by the light emitting means.
 4. The table of claim 3 wherein said illuminating means further includes a housing disposed below said cover, said housing supporting said light emitting means, with the base of said housing forming the reflective base of the illuminating means.
 5. The table of claim 4 wherein said cover is pivotably connected to said table to provide access to the interior of said housing.
 6. The table of claim 5 wherein said cover is formed of a plastic material.
 7. The table of claim 5 wherein heat dissipating means are provided in said housing.
 8. The table of claim 7 wherein said heat dissipating means comprise at least one louvre. 